Schools Olympic Program Finals 2024–25
Qatar marked the grand finale of the 18th edition of the Schools Olympic Program 2024–2025 at the Aspire Dome on Thursday. Among the prominent figures in attendance were H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee; Dr. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee; H.E. Lolwah Al Khater, Minister of Education and Higher Education; Zeljko Tanaskovic, President of the International School Sport Federation; H.E. Mohamed bin Yousef Al Mana, First Vice-President of the Qatar Olympic Committee; and H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, QOC Secretary-General.
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'When my country hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022 – the safest, most family-friendly, and most inclusive World Cup in history – I was very proud that we stuck to our values,' she said. 'This is important for any citizen when a sporting tournament comes to their country – that it is reflective of the values of that country. 'It's incredible to see the empowerment sports can bring. When I look at students from our school for children with autism participating in horse-riding classes, that is inclusive sports – and we do this across the board at Qatar Foundation. We ensure everyone has a space." 'Sports is part of the Qatari DNA, and so is social development. When we look at what Qatar has done, not just across the region but globally, it only made sense to naturally evolve and transition these two elements together, and so we have an opportunity to create even wider impact through sports in the context of socioeconomic development.' 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EAA's Foundation role includes integrating education and life skills into the design of sport-for-development programs, leveraging its partnerships in more than 60 countries to identify communities where Circle In can have maximum impact. With a focus on girls, children with disabilities, and marginalized youth, EAA Foundation will ensure that the initiative delivers holistic, sustainable, and measurable outcomes.
